UPDATE 03.20.07: The Foreign Ministry comments on the below story at its Monday press briefing.

Nous démentons catégoriquement ces informations dénuées de tout fondement.

[We categorically deny the information which is devoid of all foundation.]

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Moreover, obviously France has convictions. She considers that war is always the worst solution, which can only be used if there really are no others and she is remaining true to this principle.

Jack,
le combattant de la paix
PARIS March 16, 2003 (CBS/CNN)

I wish to reiterate here that for France war can only be the last resort, and collective responsibility, the rule.

Dom,
ancien ministre des Affaires étrangères
NEW YORK March 19, 2003 (UNSC)

We consider that all military action not endorsed by the international community, through, in particular, the Security Council, was both illegitimate and illegal, is illegitimate and illegal. And we have not changed our view on that.

Jack,
le combattant de la paix
ÉVIAN-LES-BAINS June 3, 2003 (BBC

Which are by way of reminder.

I find, honestly - as do all Europeans - that the current reactions [scil., Israel's invasion of Lebanon] are totally disproportionate.

Jack,
le combattant de la paix
PALAIS DE L'ÉLYSÉE 14 juillet 2006 (Élysée)

We obviously condemn this disproportionate act of war...

Philippe Douste-Blazy,*
ministre des Affaires étrangères
PARIS July 13, 2006 (AFP)

Which are by way of context.

Now our report.

FRANCE URGED ISRAEL TO HIT SYRIA

March 18, 2007 (JPost) - French President Jacques Chirac told Israel at the start of the war in Lebanon that France would support an Israeli assault on Syria, it was reported on Sunday.

Army Radio reported that in the message, which was delivered by Chirac to Israel via a secret channel, the French president suggested that Israel invade Damascus and topple the regime of Bashar Assad. In exchange, Chirac assured Israel full French support for the war.

... "President Chirac saw Syria as directly responsible for the attempt to undermine the Lebanese regime," [former Israeli ambassador to France Nissim Zvilli] said. "He saw them as directly responsible for the murder of (former Lebanese prime minister) Rafik Hariri [a personal friend of Jack] and directly responsible for arming Hizbullah. Likewise, he saw Syria as the one giving Hizbullah orders on how to operate."

Israel correctly assessed the integrity of the French committment, the worth of "full French support", and decided to go it alone with its own more limited objectives. France had no choice but to revert to principle and condemn Israel -- even as some French threatened war in kind. Had Israel agreed we are sure France would have outed her back channel proposition to the UNSC for a vote and one of those handsome frameable UNSCRs.

Yes, you may want to go back and give this a second good hard read.

[Hat tip: ¡No Pasarán!]

* The dimmest bulb in the dark Chirac marquee™.

PFFT (What is this?): Convictions 4 | Rules 0 | Principles 0 | Rayonnement français 0

(Baise La Syrie)

So Chirac supported an assault on Syria. Does that mean he approved leveling Lebanon ?

M. Zmx,

Thank you for the title correction.

Jack "assured Israel full French support for the war". This seems plain enough. Had Israel played along, yes, it seems a fair inference that France would have approved.

Or does "full French support for the war" mean something like: "France won't condemn you until after Syria has had the hell bombed out of it -- to our satisfaction"? We don't pretend to know if occult readings of plain language are common in French diplomacy.

The approval we find missing, since you may have missed the point, is the submission of France's proposition, which urged Israel to more and bloodier war, before the UNSC for a vote.

As the quotes show, Jack and Dom are very particular on the requisites for legitimate hostilities. After all, military action not endorsed by the international community, through, in particular, the Security Council, is illegitimate and illegal. At least, that is Jack's avowed position.

DGB